Chess News

Before the opening ceremony of the second stage of FIDE Women's Grand Prix in Dilijan, the FIDE delegation met with Armenian Prime Minister Mr. Tigran Sargsyan. The both sides exchanged the opinions on the CiS programme, considering that chess in Armenia is a part of curriculum in the second and third classes, and in the fourth starting from this year. The meeting was remarkable by the fact that Mr. Sargsyan is a Vice President of Armenian Chess Federation. At the meeting also present were the Governor of Tavush Province Mr. Armen Ghularyan, and other heads of the province and Dilijan city.

As you know, Peace and Sport and FIDE were together in Palestine this week to follow up on the “Chess for leadership and creativity” common project launched in November 2011, part of our common worldwide program “Chess for Peace”. “Chess for leadership and creativity” is our third common project after Haiti and Colombia. As you know, this project was mainly focusing on Palestinian women empowerment using chess as a tool.

During this trip, FIDE was represented by its grand master and expert Mr. Damir Levacic, President of the Mediterranean Chess Union. Peace and Sport was represented by myself, Head of Programmes and Field Operations.

During this 4 day trip, we visited each of the 5 beneficiary centers: Qatanna (near Ramallah), Shiraa (Bethlehem), Al Mahawer (near Hebron), Kfar Akeb and Las Khamis (near Jerusalem) and of course met with the Palestinian Chess Federation.

I have to say that Damir and myself were quite impressed to see the progresses made by each of the beneficiary centers. Their level has increased a lot over the past year and a half, to the point that one of these centers (Qatanna) is now considered the best in Palestine for women. Some of the beneficiary girls have even participated in International competitions (Russia, Qatar and Turkey) and one of them managed to meet Alexandra Kosteniuk, Peace and Sport Champion for Peace and “god mother” of the project. See some photos and press articles concerning them attached.

I’d like through this email to acknowledge the work done by FIDE expert Mr. Damir Levacic who gave all his energy to teach some new techniques for the beneficiary people and to play with some of them. Everybody there enjoyed his visit as well as Melissa visit last year. Everybody seems to have kept a great memory of her stay there.

We are in touch for the next steps in our cooperation. I remain at your disposal should you need further details.

Thank you on behalf of each participating centers.

Best Regards,

Ludovic Hubler
Head of Programmes and Field Operations
- Peace and Sport -
L'Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport

First round of the 2nd tournament of Women's Grand Prix started in Dilijan, Armenia.

Round 1 Results

Round 1 report is availble at http://dilijan2013.fide.com/en/main-page/1-news-en/240-round-1-report

Photo Gallery

Dear Kirsan Nikolayevich!

I sincerely congratulate you on the election to the position of President of International Mind Sports Association (IMSA). This decision is an acknowledgment of your invaluable contribution to the development of intellectual sports not only in Russia but in the whole world. I hope that FIDE and Republic of Bashkortostan will continue the cooperation on realization of joint projects.

President
Republic of Bashkortostan
Rustem Khamitov

Download Congratulation (RUS)

The 33rd Botswana National Sports Council picked FIDE Zone 4.3 President, Tshepo Sitale as the best Sports Administrator for 2012. FIDE congratulates Tshepo Sitale on this award, which is well deserved.

The results of the World Blitz Chess Championship were known on 10 June in the Ugra Chess Academy in Khanty-Mansiysk. 60 chess players from 18 countries were fighting for the title of t he World Blitz champion.

The Russian grandmaster Yan Nepomniachtchi and the Vietnamese Le Quang Liem were leading after the first day. Both Grandmasters had 12 points each. But the distance from the competitors was not very big: half a point behind was Ruslan Ponomariov from the Ukraine. Also, very close to the leading chess players, there was a group of chess players Alexander Grischuk, Ernesto Inarkiev from Russia.

At the beginning of the second day, Le Liem was ahead of other chess players. Till the last round he managed to keep this distance. But before the last round Ponomariov came very close to the Vietnamese grandmaster. The victory over Sergey Movsesian (Armenia) in the last round brought the gold medal to Le in the World Blitz championship. Ponomariov made a draw in the last round against Gabriel Sargissian.

Grischuk, Nepomniachtchi and Ponomatiov finished the championship only half a point behind the winner. The silver medal goes to Alexander Grischuk and the bronze – to Ruslan Ponomariov.

The World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship was taking place from 6 to 10 June in Khanty-Mansiysk. The World Rapid Champion was known on 8 June, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) became the World Rapid Chess Champion. Silver and Bronze medal go to Yan Nepomniachtchi and Alexander Grischuk accordingly.

The prize fund of the championships was 400 thousand US dollars and was divided between two tournaments equally.

Pictures from the Closing Ceremony

http://khantymansiysk2013.fide.com/

http://khantymansiysk2013.fide.com/

FIDE is publishing the player's contract for the World Cup to be held in Tromso, Norway from 10 August (arrivals / opening ceremony) to 4 September 2013 (departures). The qualified players are expected to fax or email scanned the original document of their signed contract to the FIDE Secretariat's fax number +30 2109212859 or email office@fide.com no later than Tuesday 11 June 2013.

The full technical regulations of the event are on the FIDE handbook:
http://www.fide.com/fide/handbook.html?id=135&view=article

More travel information for Tromso is provided by the local Organising Committee:
http://www.tromso2014.no/world-cup-2013/information-for-players/

FIDE is also publishing the initial list of qualifiers as per regulations:

World Cup qualifiers (pdf)

Player's Contract (pdf)

At the same time, Mr Georgi Parvanov informed the FIDE President that the Bulgarian Chess Federation will propose its own candidate for the position of President of the European Chess Union in the elections to be held in Khanty-Mansiysk, September 2010.